St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-13


\. &SsS<SE,S 81 differentcauses
u'''et -SS this this result,
though endeavOring to give reasons, has
apparently omitted to mention one OF
the prime causes of the conflict, and in
cropping for such information the reader
Is generally left in obscure darkness. 1t
is strange. too, that this chief
event. which evidently precipitated
war SO much earlier than it
would otherwise have occurred,
seems . to have been either over
looked, or neglected by the historian,
and consequently large portion of some
of the most important and Interesting
events of those times has passed by un-
noticed or. only been treasured up by
those who participated. possibly to APP
pear at some future time, or perchance
be forgotten altogether, SaySa wrl ter III
the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Among the hardy and most courageous
pioneers of Montana was Paul McCor-
mick, now a resident of Junction City,
that territory, and merchant of
considerable wealth and influence.
His wife is an Eastern lady, hand
some and intelligent. and. withal rare
beauty, and extremely youthful in ap-
peaarnce. But what most strikes the
eve Ol lllt SlSul VI
Mr.. Mccormick and his lovely wife, is
ages is quite a matrimonial anomaly, the
formers hair and whiSkerS being SNOW
white, while the latter'S hair is jet-black,
glossy. and she possesses such fresh
and rosy features as to be easily mis-
taken for young maiden of sweet six
teen, instead of the better half of man
whose head indicates seventy or eighty
winters. Nevertheless, Mr.. McCOr
mick face has a bright. healthy look,
and if you will observe closely you will
perhaps discover that his features do
not really indicate more than a few
years past thirty. Still, on first i'm
preston, you are far more inclined to
eXclaim to yourself: 'What pity, to
marry man old enough to be her
grandfather
PAUL MCCORMICK
was one of the foremost pioneers of
Montana, arriving there from New York
some time during 1860, when but a
young siAan in his ''teenS'' and late from
college. His, parents were not only
wealthy and Highly respected, but the
father was considered one of the most
influential men in the city in which he
resided. The son early displayed
an uncommon love of adventure,
which Mr.. Mccormick endeavOred in
various ways to appease, but APP
parently all'hlS efforts were in vain, for
Paul gave up a most desirable position
to accept clerkship with a Sioux In
dian agent not far from Fort Buford, on
the Upper Missouri river, arriving at
the new location some time early in the
summer of the year mentioned. Here
he remained two years, when on
receiving a more remunerative
offer at Fort Benton, the head
of steamboat navigation on that river,
he gave up his former position and
proceeded thither. Shortly afterward.
however. he drifted to Alder Gulch, or
Virginia City, there being at that time
much excitement in consequence of the
gold discoveries. From Alder Gulch he
went to Last Chance" or Helena, and
late reached BOZeman. These settle
ments were then the only ones of any
Importance within what is known as
the territory of Montana. McCor-
mick being an industrious, active,
shrewd and trustworthy young business
man, and possessed of great candOr and
sincerity of heart, soon gained the I'M
limited confidence of nearly all the
most prominent people of that section.
Being thoroughly imbued with an ag-
greSSive spirit, he rendered valuable
services to that section during the times
of its border outlaws, and par
ticipated in MANY campaigns
against the Indians, who fire.
9uently committed depredations upon
the property of the unprotected inhab-
itants. In fact, there are few individ-
uals within that territory who took more
risks and accepted more hazardous un-
dertakings than this same indi-
vidual. The one exploit. however,
above all others, and which,
though unwritten, ought to give
him high place among the
pioneers of the West, was brought about
by the opening up of the Yellowstone
country, precipitated by the building OF
old Fort PeaSe, from SIX to nine miles
below the mouth of Big Horn river, on
the north bank of the Yellowstone
river. This was accomplished through
the ~-.------
DARING ENERGY
of Mccormick and few other indi-
vidualS, who at BOZeman conceived the
idea of an outlet east and through the
Indian country, then in possession OF
the bloody Sioux. 1t was a desperate
undertaking and fraught with the most
serious DerilS, as that entire section
was then swarming with hordes OF
the hostile SayageS, ready to pounce
upon and destroy any whites who might
attempt to cross or invade these do
mains. Nevertheless this did not deter
these daring pioneers from the enter
prise, and accordingly two boats were
hastily constructed at BensOn's Landing.
which, after being loaded with goods
provisions. arms and ammunition.
flOated leisurely down the Yellowstone
TO an unknown destination. These
boats were manned by over forty brave
and sturdy pioneers, but this did not
prevent several accidents. the voyage
being one of great peril, owing tC
the ineXperience of the pilots and
the dangers attending navigation, the
current in this river being frequently
very swift and rapid. Signs of Indians
often became visible to our adventures
But it was not until they had reached
the vicinity of Pompey's Pillar
that they truly realized their great
danger. Here they discovered that
the country was SWarming with
the enemy, and on coming to the con.
cluSiOn that it would be impossible to
proceed very much further without in.
curing great risk of not only losing
their property, but their lives also, al
length agreed to make a landing and
build some kind of prOtec
ton for defense. According
" they effected landing
on what is now Capt. WOOlfolk's ranch
one mile below the present pOstOffice OF
Etchetah. Here they felled trees, and
after weeks of hard labor built fort %;
feet square. which they named For
Pease, in honor of Maj. Pease, one Of
the most prominent outftters of the eX
petition. This fort, when completed
was one of the strongest f0rtreSses il
md cauQn this Gallant LITTLE
band from humiliation, as well as serv
ing to arouse the Sioux to a most bloody
conflict. For two days or more from the
time OF the commencement of the cree
ton of the fort
THE INDIANS
were apparently nOnplussed with sur